Two hulls of the 1/4-scale EARL-D4 have been built, and one fitted with radio control, and launched on a bungee rope for glide tests. It glides well,and much as expected, but small changes in the fin configurations are being made to gain maximum stability at low speed gliding, which is what we need for landing.

The solid-fuel rocket motors for the 1/4-scale hull are designed and will be built shortly, after which the high-speed behaviour of the EARL hull will be tested, when it is sent up to up to 4km or so, having gone supersonic, and will then glide down under radio control to a soft landing. There will be some pictures of the motor tests and flights, soon.

A demo payload for the EARL vehicle is under construction, kindly provided by Tony Porritt, who has already flown a smartphone from a balloon. The payload will leave the EARL-D4 at the apogee, around 30km or more, and parachute to the ground.

The quarter-scale rocket motor has been built, fuel grains have been prepared and engine tests are due next week. Picture is the actual unit (45cm long).